The four largest technology companies, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet, are set to collectively invest over $200 billion in capital expenditures this year, marking a record high. While these companies tout AI as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," concerns remain about whether these massive investments will translate into tangible returns and long-term growth.

According to a report from Citigroup analysts, the combined capital expenditures (CAPEX) of these tech giants is expected to reach $209 billion in 2024, a 42% increase from the previous year. Experts estimate that approximately 80% of this investment will be directed towards data center infrastructure. Bloomberg also forecasts that the combined CAPEX of these four companies will surpass $200 billion.

Recent earnings reports from these tech giants have confirmed this trend of increasing capital expenditures. In the third quarter, their combined capital spending surged 62% year-on-year to $60 billion.

Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, stated during a conference call that the company's capital expenditures would reach approximately $75 billion this year and even more next year. He emphasized that AI represents a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, echoed similar sentiments, saying, "While building infrastructure may not be the sexiest thing for investors to hear in the short term, we think there's a really big opportunity here."

This massive investment underscores the intense global competition in the AI sector. Companies are aggressively acquiring AI chips and constructing data centers to support AI operations. They argue that these significant investments will drive future revenue growth from digital advertising, software, and other emerging businesses beyond their current core offerings.

While these four companies have reported strong earnings, market reactions have been mixed. Amazon and Alphabet's stock prices have risen following their earnings reports, driven by the robust performance of their cloud businesses, which are essential for AI operations. However, Meta and Microsoft experienced declines in their share prices as investors expressed concerns about their increased capital expenditures and less-than-expected business growth prospects.

Market analysts have raised questions about the impact of AI on corporate profitability. Brent Thill, an analyst at investment bank Jefferies, pointed out that while Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that the company's AI business had surpassed $10 billion in annual revenue, other companies provided less specific details about their AI-related earnings.

Jim Tierney, of asset management firm AllianceBernstein, expressed skepticism, asking, "What is the actual payoff?" He warned that the significant spending could erode profit margins.